Pivotal construction for portable cooler

Abstract

A cooler construction of the type having a pair of cover halves journalled upon a body portion for movement between a closed position and an opened position. An improved pivotal connection is provided for journalling the cover halves and for detachably affixing them to the body portion.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a cooler construction having a body portion having an article receiving cavity accessible through an opening, a cover member, and means for supporting said cover member for pivotal movement relative to said body portion for selectively opening and closing said opening, the improvement comprising said means for pivotally supporting said cover member comprising means on said body portion defining a cylindrical recess formed therein and closed at its base by an integral wall, said cover member being formed with an opening therein aligned with the pivot axis of said cover member, and fastening means for connecting said cover member relative to said body member and permitting pivotal movement of said cover member relative to said body member, said fastening means comprising a first piece extending into said cylindrical recess and barb means carried by said first piece for permitting axial entry of said first piece into said cylindrical opening and for precluding withdrawal therefrom. 
     
     
       2. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the barb means is formed by a spring clip carried by the first piece and detachable relative thereto. 
     
     
       3. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first piece comprises a molded plastic member. 
     
     
       4. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 3 wherein the molded plastic member first piece has a cruciform shape and the spring clip is wrapped around one leg thereof. 
     
     
       5. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are a pair of cover members pivotally supported by the body portion and each operative to close a portion of the opening, each of said cover members being pivotally connected to the body portion as defined therein. 
     
     
       6. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein the cover members are pivotally supported at the opposite ends of the body portion. 
     
     
       7. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein the barb means is formed by a spring clip carried by the first piece and detachable relative thereto. 
     
     
       8. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first piece comprises a molded plastic member. 
     
     
       9. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein the molded plastic member first piece has a cruciform shape and the spring clip is wrapped around one leg thereof. 
     
     
       10. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body member is formed with a cylindrically extending projection surrounding the opening and extending in the opposite direction therefrom, said cover member opening being journalled on said projection. 
     
     
       11. In a cooler construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein the barb means is formed by a spring clip carried by the first piece and detachable relative thereto.